BENGALURU: A day after he announced that he will keep the higher education portfolio with himself, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Thursday sought details on one of the most controversial decisions of the previous government.
Officials of the higher education department confirmed to the New Indian Express that the CM has sought a report on the directive issued to state universities insisting that they buy blank marks cards from MSIL (Mysore Sales International Ltd). During his tenure as higher education minister, Basavaraja Rayareddi had passed a resolution in one of the governing council meetings asking state universities to buy blank marks cards from MSIL. Many vice-chancellors and registrars had opposed the idea stating that it will create financial burden on the universities, but they were told to follow the order.
Vice-chancellors of different universities in the state claimed that earlier they used to buy per blank marks card at `3 to `5 each. Through MSIL, they were getting the marks cards at `30 to `90 per piece, which put financial strain on the universities, they said.
The Chief Minister also sought details on appointment of registrars and vice-chancellors. “We will furnish details on what grounds the registrars have been appointed in a day or two,” said an official of the higher education department.